Slaughterhouse has been blistering the L.A. scene for quite some time, but it hasn't released anything past singles since, um, 2021. This is a quick blast, with heavy hints of another full-length coming soon. And there's plenty of fuel here.

Slaughterhouse Sick and Tired EP (Pirates Press)

Throttling the line between melodic punk, glam metal and hardcore punk (something of an amalgam of TSOL, Black Flag and such), Slaughterhouse has a fabulous 80s punk feel with sharp 2025 production values. Meriel O'Connell is a fine singer, but her screams are just as effective.

Is this punk? Yes. Rock? Yep. Snotty, ragged and muscular, these songs blast through all barriers. And yes, the cover of Black Flag's "My War" fits right in. Pretty much no one sounds like this these days, and this wonderful aggression is most refreshing to hear.

I certainly hope more is forthcoming soon. I also hope that a full-length doesn't dilute the power of these short bursts of power. Slaughterhouse has stripped off all the fat and is burning lean muscle. Catch the adrenaline, if you can.

Jon Worley